Support for a load, especially an electric light, with a standardized vertically adjustable spring-loaded arm

ABSTRACT

The support for a load, particularly a lamp, includes a standard spring-loaded arm ( 3 ) which is pivotable about a vertical axis and vertically adjustable for holding and positioning the load ( 4 ). The spring-loaded arm ( 3 ) is connected with other parts ( 9,8 ) of the support by engagement of an upwardly directed pin-shaped connector element ( 5 ) in a downwardly directed connector pipe or socket section ( 6 ), so that the spring-loaded arm ( 3 ) is suspended from the other parts. The spring-loaded arm ( 3 ) with the upwardly directed pin-shaped connector element ( 5 ) has universal applicability in a variety of supports including ceiling or wall supports, which have a cantilever arm ( 8 ) from which the connector pipe section ( 6 ) extends downwardly, and floor or table supports, which have a stand ( 14,22 ) and a support tube ( 9 ) extending upward from the stand and having a curved section ( 10 ) to which the connector pipe section ( 6 ) is attached.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support for a load, e.g. an electriclight, and, more particularly, to a support comprising a spring-loadedpivotable arm, which is vertically adjustable for holding andpositioning the load and a connector element for connection with otherparts or elements of the support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a support of the typementioned above in which the same spring-loaded arm can be used for awide variety of supports (ceiling supports, wall supports, tablesupports and floor supports).

According to the invention the support for a load, especially a lamp,includes

a downwardly directed connector pipe section, preferably extendingdownward from a wall or ceiling fixture or a curved section of a supporttube supported on a stand;

a vertically adjustable spring-loaded arm for holding and positioningthe load; and

an upwardly directed pin-shaped connector element connected with thevertically adjustable spring-loaded arm and pivotably engaged with thedownwardly directed connector pipe section to form a suspended pivotconnection for pivoting the vertically adjustable spring-loaded armhorizontally about a vertical axis.

The support structure according to the invention can advantageously beused in a number of different fixtures and stands, especially for lamps.It can be constructed as a standard module so that the manufacturing ofa variety of stands and fixtures is made easier and more economical.

Various preferred embodiments are possible. In a particularly preferredembodiment the upwardly directed pin-shaped connector element has aretaining ring around its upper part to hold the pin-shaped connectorelement in the connector pipe section so that the pin-shaped connectorelement pivots or rotates in a horizontal rotation direction in theconnector pipe section. Advantageously the spring-loaded arm includes aspring and a spring force adjusting device for the spring. Furthermore apivot joint for connecting the upwardly-directed pin-shaped connectorelement with the spring-loaded arm is provided so that the spring-loadedarm may be vertically adjusted as well as horizontally pivoted.

In some embodiments a cantilever arm is pivotally connected to theconnector pipe section and means for connecting the cantilever arm to aceiling or a wall fixture are provided, which can be another pivotjoint.

In other embodiments a stand and a support tube extending upward fromthe stand are provided. In these other embodiments the support tube hasan upper curved section with the downwardly directed connector pipesection connected to an otherwise free end. The stand is provided withwheels and the support tube has a handle for directing motion of thestand, e.g., over a floor. The support can also include a low-voltagetransformer housing connected with the support tube and handle so thatthey form a unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The objects, features and advantages of the invention will beillustrated in more detail with the aid of the following description ofthe preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side view of ceiling fixture without a spring-leaded armaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a wall fixture without a spring-loaded armaccording to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a table stand without a spring-loaded armaccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a floor stand without a spring-loaded armaccording to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a spring-loaded arm according to the inventionfor various supports according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a first embodiment of a ceiling supportaccording to the invention including a spring-loaded arm;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a second embodiment of a wall support accordingto the invention including a spring-loaded arm;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a third embodiment of a table support accordingto the invention including a spring-loaded arm;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of a floor supportaccording to the invention including a spring-loaded arm; and

FIG. 10 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the spring-loaded armof FIG. 5, showing details of the mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a ceiling support 1.1 which is provided witha cantilever arm 8 which is rotatable about an axis 2.1. The cantileverarm 8 has a connector pipe section 6 for receiving a spring-loaded arm 3according to the invention (FIG. 5).

FIG. 2 shows a wall support 1.2 which is provided with a cantilever arm8 that is rotatable about an axis 2.1. The cantilever arm 8 has aconnector pipe section 6 for receiving a spring-loaded arm 3 accordingto the invention (FIG. 5).

FIG. 3 shows a table support 1.3 which is provided with a cantilever arm8 that is rotatable about an axis 2.1. The cantilever arm 8 has aconnector pipe section 6 for receiving a spring-loaded arm 3 accordingto the invention (FIG. 5). The table support 1.3 is provided with asupport tube 9 which has a curve section 10 in the upper area, whereinthe end of the curve section 10 is connected with the cantilever arm 8via a pivot joint 18.

FIG. 4 shows a movable floor support 1.4. A connector pipe section 6 isprovided for receiving a spring-loaded arm 3 (FIG. 5). The floor support1.4 is provided with a support tube 9 which has a curve section 10 inthe upper area, wherein the end of the curve section 10 is connectedwith the connector pipe section 6 via a pivot joint 18.

The spring-loaded arm 3 which is provided with a pin-shaped connectorelement 5 arranged at the top is shown in FIG. 5 as a constructionalunit. The spring-loaded arm 3 has a joint 19 for vertical adjustment anda receptacle 20 for receiving a load 4.

A first embodiment example is shown as a ceiling support 1.1 in FIG. 6,wherein, with respect to FIG. 1, the spring-loaded arm 3 is connectedwith the cantilever arm 8 by means of the suspended connection 7comprising the connector pipe section 6 and the pin-shaped connectorelement 5. FIG. 10 shows this in more detail. The free end of thespring-loaded arm 3 is connected with a load 4 via a receptacle 20 bymeans of a load connection 21, wherein the load connection 21 can beconstructed in such a way that the load 4 can be rotated into differentpositions. A device or a lamp 16 (FIG. 9) can be provided as load 4, forexample.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment example as a wall support 1.2, wherein,with respect to FIG. 2, the spring-loaded arm 3 is connected with thecantilever arm 8 by means of the suspended connection 7 and carries aload 4, 16.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment example as a table support 1.3, wherein,with respect to FIG. 3, the spring-loaded arm 3 is connected with thecantilever arm 8 by means of the suspended connection 7 and carries aload 4, 16. The table support 1.3 has a base 22 such that the tablesupport 1.3 is prevented from tipping over even in extreme positions.This is achieved either in that the base 22 is fixedly connected with atable 23 or in that it is provided with correspondingly largedimensions. The table support 1.3 is preferably suitable for holding alamp 16, because a lamp 16 generally has little weight. Economicalmanufacture is made possible by means of standardized pivot joints 18,especially when the cantilever arm 8 also has a standardized design.

FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment example as a floor support 1.4,wherein, with respect to FIG. 4, the spring-loaded arm 3 is connectedwith the support tube 9 by means of the suspended connection 7 andcarries a load 4, for example, one or more lamps 16 or other irradiatingdevices (for example, for therapeutic purposes). Since the floor support1.4 has a stand 14 which is movable via wheels 15 and can accordingly bepositioned as a whole, a cantilever arm 8 was omitted in this case. Thesupport tube 9 is provided with a handle 11 for positioning the floorsupport 1.4. An economical constructional unit is formed by the handle11 and the low-voltage transformer housing 17, wherein the correspondingtransformer supplies power to the lamp 16 via a cable inside the supporttube 9, suspended connection 7, joint 19, spring arm 3 and loadconnection 21. A ring 24 is provided for precise positioning of the lamp16 by means of a joint 25, indicated in dashed lines.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a detail showing the suspended connection7 of the spring-loaded arm 3, wherein the bush-like connection element 6is connected preferably by welding—with the cantilever arm 8 or supporttube 9. The pin-shaped connector element 5 is connected with the joint19 of the spring arm 3 (e.g., as an injection-molded metal part). Thesuspended connection 7 is held together by a retaining ring 26 on thepin-shaped connector element 5 (not shown in section). A correspondingstop 27 is provided for optional rotation limiting. The spring arm 3comprises a tube 28 in which a spring 30 is integrated. The joint 19 isprovided with a spring force adjusting device 12 for adjusting asuitable spring force. A spindle 29 with a compression spring 30 isconstructed so as to be hollow in order to guide a supply cable throughthe spring-loaded arm 3.

The advantages resulting from the invention include the following:

versatile use of a standardized spring-loaded arm 3 in differentconstructions of the support with standardized suspended connection 7,e.g., floor support, ceiling support, wall support or table support(cost advantage);

versatile use of a standardized cantilever arm 8 in differentconstructions of the support with standardized pivot joints 18, e.g.,floor support, ceiling support, wall support or table support (costadvantage);

possibilities for modular or building-block type combinations reduceextensive storage (cost advantage).

What is claimed is:
 1. A support for a load (4), said support comprisinga downwardly directed connector pipe section (6); a verticallyadjustable spring-loaded arm (3) for holding and vertically positioningthe load (4); and an upwardly-directed pin-shaped connector element (5)connected with the vertically adjustable spring-loaded arm (3) andpivotably engaged with the downwardly directed connector pipe section(6) to form a suspended pivot connection (7) for pivoting the verticallyadjustable spring-loaded arm (3) horizontally about a vertical axis. 2.The support as defined in claim 1, wherein said upwardly directedpin-shaped connector element (5) has a retaining ring (26) around anupper part of the connector element to hold said pin-shaped connectorelement (5) in said connector pipe section (6) so that said pin-shapedconnector element (5) pivots in said connector pipe section (6).
 3. Thesupport as defined in claims 1, wherein said spring-loaded arm (3)includes a spring (30) and a spring force adjusting device (12) for saidspring (30).
 4. The support as defined in claims 1, further comprising apivot joint (19) for connecting the upwardly-directed pin-shapedconnector element (5) with the spring-loaded arm (3).
 5. The support asdefined in claim 1, further comprising a cantilever arm (8) to whichsaid connector pipe section (6) is pivotally connected and means forconnecting said cantilever arm (8) to a ceiling or a wall.
 6. Thesupport as defined in claim 5, wherein said means for connecting saidcantilever arm to said ceiling or said wall includes another pivot joint(18).
 7. The support as defined in claims 1, further comprising a stand(14,22) and a support tube (9) extending upward from said stand andwherein said support tube (9) has an upper curved section (10) with saiddownwardly directed connector pipe section (6) connected to an otherwisefree end of said upper curved section (10).
 8. The support as defined inclaims 7, wherein said stand is provided with wheels (15) and saidsupport tube (9) has a handle (11) for directing motion of said standover a floor.
 9. The support as defined in claim 8, further comprising alow-voltage transformer housing (17) connected with said support tube(9) and said handle (11) and wherein said handle (11) and saidlow-voltage transformer housing (17) form a unit.
 10. The support asdefined in claim 1, wherein said load (4) is an electric lamp (16).